Direct coupled modulation system



Sept. 29, 1953 R. L. MEISENHEIMER DIRECT COUPLED MODULATION SYSTEM Filed March 29, 1952 VOL THEE SUPPLY INVENTOR RaymondL/l /eisenbeimer ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1953 DIRECT COUPLED MODULATION SYSTEM Raymond Lamar Meisenheimer, Haddonfield,

N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application March 29, 1952, Serial No. 279,351

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to modulation systems and particularly to such systems wherein a signal amplifier stage is directly coupled to a modulated stage.

In directly coupling a signal amplifier stage to a modulated stage (in which case the signal amplifier stage is often referred to as a modulator stage), a difficult problem has existed, particularly in direct current coupled television modulator circuits, in furnishing the proper operating bias voltages to the modulated stage and at the same time providing a coupling from the signal amplifier to the modulated stage capable of passing low frequency and direct current components. Prior art circuit arrangements have not satisfactorily separated the control of the grid biasing voltage of the modulated stage from the anode current circuit of the signal amplifier stage.

The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for overcoming the difiiculties arising out of this lack of separate control. The direct coupling between the signal amplifier and the modulated stage is simplified in the present invention, which also eliminates the need for a separate power supply heretofore required to furnish operating grid bias for the modulated stage. No shunt reactance is added to the load circuit of the signal amplifier stage, as is the case when a separate bias supply is utilized. Hum is also reduced in two ways by the system of the invention: first. by the elimination of a separate grid bias supply source; and second. by the exclusion of the signal amplifier stage power supply from the modulating circuit, as a result of which hum and voltage variations arising therein are substantially eliminated from the modulated stage.

Among the objects of the invention are: to provide an improved direct-coupled signal amplifier stage and modulated stage; to simplify the coupling in a direct-coupled modulation system; to provide separate controls for the anode current circuit of the signal amplifier stage and the grid biasing circuit of the modulated stage in a direct-coupled modulation system; to reduce the effects of hum and power supply voltage variation in a direct-coupled modulation system; and to improve the direct current coupling between the video modulator and the video modulated stage in a television transmitter wherein a wide band of frequencies is utilized.

The foregoing objects are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a direct-coupled modulation system in which the grid-cathode circuit of the grid-modulated stage includes in series a load resistor of the signal amplifier (modulator) stage across which resistor the modulating voltage is developed, and a voltage difference circuit. This voltage difference circuit provides a control of the grid biasing voltage of the modulated stage separate from the anode current circuit of the signal amplifier stage. The voltage difference circuit is positioned at a point of zero signal potential and maintains a direct current reference for the modulated stage different from the direct current reference for the signal amplifier stage.

.The system of the invention will be described with reference to a modulation system for imposing video information on a radio frequency carrier wave, for example, a direct coupled television transmitter modulator system; although it is to be understood that the arrangement may be employed for other types of modulation systems as well.

A more detailed description of the invention follows in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a direct coupled modulation system incorporating the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a modification of one portion of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a direct coupled modulation system having a signal amplifier modulator stage shown within the dotted line box II, a. modulated amplifier stage shown within the dotted line box [3, and a grid biasing arrangement for the modulated amplifier stage l3 shown within the dotted line box IS. The signal amplifier or modulator stage I l amplifies the output from a source of modulating potential derived, for example, from a video input circuit ll. The video input circuit I! is coupled to the control grid of an evacuated electron discharge device 2! serving as a signal amplifier. The anode potential for the signal amplifier device 2| is supplied from a source of unidirectional potential, such as a power supply 23. The unidirectional potential from the power supply 23, after being subjected to filtering action by a series inductor 25 and a shunt filter capacitor 21, is impressed across the electron discharge device 2| and a load resistor 29. For television transmission, video peaking coils 3i and 33 are usually included in this series arrangement. The amplified output voltage from the signal amplifier stage 2| is developed across the load resistor 29.

The modulated amplifier stage [3 includes an evacuated electron discharge device 35 which is supplied with suitable high voltage unidirectional operating potential from a high voltage supply 31. The radio frequency carrier to be modulated is supplied to the control grid of the modulated amplifier discharge device from a suitable carrier source 4|. The amplified video information from the signal amplifier stage I is coupled by a connection 33 capable of passing direct current to the same control grid through a radio frequency isolating choke 42. The modulated amplifier stage l3 also includes a resonant output circuit shown as including a primary winding of an output transformer 43 and a tuning capacitor 45 in parallel therewith. A radio frequency bypass capacitor 41 is connected between the oathode of the modulated amplifier device 35 and that side of the resonant output circuit 43, 45 which is farthest removed from the anode of the modulated amplifier discharge device 35 in order to shunt the high voltage power supply 31 for radio frequency currents.

Regulated operating potential for the screen grid electrode of the electron discharge device 35 may also be furnished from the high voltage supply 31 by means of a potentiometer or tapped connection of a voltage divider 49. Two voltage regulator tubes 53 in series between the negative reference point terminal 55 of the high voltage supply 31 and the screen grid of the electron discharge device 35 are shown as the regulating means.

The filamentary cathode of the modulated amplifier discharge device 35' is connected to the negative reference point terminal 55 of the high voltage supply 31' through a center-tapped filament resistor 41. Filament heating current from a source, not shown, is supplied to the filamentary cathode of the modulated amplifier discharge device 35 in the usual manner by being connected directly across the filament leads.

Suitable grid biasing voltage forthe modulated amplifier discharge device 35 is obtained, according to this invention, by inserting a voltage difference circuit between the negative reference point 55 for the modulated amplifier stage l3 and the point of zero signal potential 6| at the B+ side of the signal amplifier stage power supply 23, The voltage difference circuit I5 is composed of two voltage regulator tubes 63, in series, having a video bypass capacitor I51 in shunt therewith. A dropping resistor 59 is connected between the negative reference point. terminal 55 of the high voltage supply 31 and the negative terminal of the signal amplifier stage power supply 23-, shown as grounded.

For an example of one condition of operation, the modulation system of the present invention is adjusted with no radio frequency carrier excitation from the carrier source 4| and a voltage on the grid of the signal amplifier electron discharge device 2| which gives the minimum expected anode current for the electron discharge device 2 This steady state current through the signal amplifier electron discharge device, 2| creates a voltage drop across the load resistor 29, making the end of the load resistor 29 nearest the control grid of the modulated amplifier discharge device 35 more negative than the point of zero signal potential 6|. This voltage difference is indicated on the drawing and denoted E1. The voltage dropping resistor 69 draws current through the series voltage regulator tubes 53, 55 from the signal amplifier stage power supply 23, making the negative reference point'terminal 55 also more negative than the point of zero signal potential 6|. This potential difference is also indicated on the drawing and is designated E2. The value of E2 is adjusted so that El exceeds E2 by the amount of bias required to just cut off the anode current of the modulated amplifier discharge device 35.

In this condition of adjustment, when radio frequency energy is supplied from the radio frequency carrier source 4|, the modulated amplifier electron discharge device 35 will conduct on positive half-cycles of the radio frequency carrier. The angle of anode current flow will be and the output of the modulated amplifier stage l3 will have a fundamental component at the carrier frequency.

When a video signal is applied from the video input H, a video voltage will appear across the load resistor 29 of the signal amplifier stage At certain values of video voltage, more current will flow through the signal amplifier electron discharge device 2|, giving a greater voltage drop across the load resistor 25. Thesevalues of voltage will drive the grid of the modulated. power amplifier electron discharge device 35 beyond cutoff, and the peak value of the plate current pulses therein will be reduced as well as the angle of anode current flow. The resulting signal appearing across the output circuit 43, 45 of the modulated power amplifier I3 is therefore amplitude modulated in accordance with the in formation from the video input circuit H, The action of the voltage difference circuit |5 shown in Fig. l is to establish a constant voltage drop between the point of zero signal potential 6| at the B+ side of the signal amplifier stage power supply 23 and the negative reference terminal 55 of the high voltage supply 31. Gas-filled electron discharge devices, suchas the voltage regulator tube 53, 65, have the property of providing a constant voltage drop which isnearly completely independent of the current passing there through within fairly wide limits. Once the values of the voltage drops E1 and E2 in the gridcathode circuit of the modulated amplifier dis charge device 35 are established, the resultant grid biasing voltage remains constant.

The present system attains the advantages of direct coupling a signal amplifier stage to a modulated stage and at the same time obviates many of the heretofore attendant difficulties. Changes in the signal amplifier stage power supply voltage, for example, between the point of zero signal potential 6| and ground, are essentially eliminated from the grid biasing circuit of the modulated power amplifier stage l3. As is known, tetrodes and pentodes have a plate current characteristic which is not greatly affected by power supply variations. Because of this stability, the changes in steady state current through the load resistor 29 are of insignificant magnitude. Furthermore, the grid return circuit for the modulated amplifier stage I3 is through the load resistor 23 of the signal amplifier stage It, the video bypass capacitor 61 and voltage dropping circuit in parallel, and the center-tapped filament resistor 51', and therefore does not include the unregulated signal amplifier power supply 23., Consequently, voltage, fluctuations, and hum arising in the signal. amplifier stage power supply 23 are not directly impressed on the control grid of the modulated amplifier electron discharge device 35.

Since the voltage difference circuit I5 is inserted in the grid-cathode electrical path of the modulated amplifier discharge device 35 at a point ,of zero signal potential, the grid biasing arrangement of this direct coupled modulation sys-' tem of this invention does not additionally load the signal amplifier stage H. Further, the coupling of the signal amplifier stage II to the modulated amplifier stage I3 is capable of passing an extremely wide band of frequencies, even including direct current. This makes the sub- ,iect direct coupled modulation system particularly suitable for television picture modulation.

The value of the dropping resistor 59 may be made variable to provide a control of the current drawn through the voltage regulator tube 83, 65 of the voltage difference circuit I5.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative form of a voltage difference circuit included within the dotted line box l5 which may be substituted for the corresponding box of Fig. 1. An evacuated electron discharge device load H is connected between the point of zero signal potential GI and the negative reference terminal 55. A control evacuated electron discharge device I3 has its enode connected to the control electrode of the load electron discharge device H and also through a load resistor to the same point of zero signal potential B! at the positive side of the signal amplifier stage power supply. A voltage dividing circuit consisting of the series circuit of two resistors l9 and 8| and a tapped resistance 83 is utilized to est: blish the operating point of the control electron discharge device 13. The control grid of the control device 13 is directly connected to the adjustable tap on the resistor 83. The cathode of the control electron discharge device 13 is returned through a constant voltage dropping circuit, a gas regulator tube 11, to the negative side of the voltage dividing circuit, designated by the numeral 84. The operating bias for the control device 13 is obtained from the gas regulator tube TI.

The operrting point of the gas regulator tube 1! is established by the resistor 85 in series between the gas regulator tube 11 and the positive side of the signal amplifier stage power supply 23.

A second gas regulator tube 81 is connected between the positive side of the signal amplifier stage power supply 23 and the negative side of the signal amplifier power supply 23, indicated as ground, through a series resistor 89. The resistor 89 is in series with the second gas regulator tube 81 and serves to establish the operating point of the second regulator tube 81, as well as furnish a return path from the negative side of the voltage dividing circuit, designated by the numeral 84.

It will be noted that a video bypass capacitor 61 is connected in shunt to the voltage difference circuit [5 shown in this figure.

The amount of current drawn from the signal amplifier stage power supply 23, for proper operation of the voltage difierence circuit l5 of Fig. 2, is that which is sufficient to establish the. operating point of the several electron tubes H, 13, H and 81, and in addition that necessary to accommodate the maximum expected grid current of the modulated amplifier stage 13.

That this circuit within the dotted line box [5 acts to maintain a constant voltage difference E2 may be understood from the following discussion. The voltage between the point of zero signal potential 8i and the negative side of the voltage divider circuit 84 is maintained constant by the second voltage regulator tube 81. When the grid current fiows in the grid-cathode path of the modulated amplifier discharge device of Fig. 1, the voltage drop across the load dis- More anode current thus flows through the load resistor 15, resulting in a decrease of voltage applied to the control electrode of the load discharge device H to increase the anode-cathode resistance of the load device H. This action of "increasing the anode-cathode resistance of the load device H increases the voltage drop across the load device H so that the negative reference point 55 is maintained at the same voltage difference with respect to the point of zero signal potential 6| as the value existing before the change in voltage took place. A similar explanation for the reverse condition, that is, where the point of zero signal potential at the positive side of the signal amplifier stage power supply 23 becomes more positive, and the control device 13 acts to decrease the anode-cathode resistance of the load device II, also applies.

The circuit shown in Fig. 2, therefore, acts to maintain a constant value of E2 in the system of Fig. 1 even in the presence of grid current flow from the modulated amplifier stage l3 which ordinarily would tend to unload the bias supply.

With the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the second voltage regulator tube 81 regulates only the inconsiderable amount of current which is drawn by the voltage difference circuit l5, making it unnecessary to provide expensive and complicated power supply regulation for the entire signal amplifier stage power supply 23.

I claim:

1. A direct coupled modulation system comprising a modulated amplifier discharge device having a cathode and a control electrode, a

source of operating potential for said modulated amplifier device, a signal amplifier discharge device, a source of unidirectional operating potential for said signal amplifier device, a point of zero signal potential, a load connected between said signal amplifier device and said point of zero signal potential, a connection from the signal amplifier device side of said load to said control electrode of said modulated amplifier device, and a voltage difference circuit connected in series between said point of zero signal potential and said cathode of said modulated amplifier device.

2. In a direct coupled modulation system including a modulated amplifier discharge device having a cathode and a control electrode, and a signal amplifier discharge device directly connected to the control electrode of said modulated amplifier device through a path capable of passing direct current, the combination comprising a point of zero signal potential, a load in series between said signal amplifier device and said point of zero signal potential, and a constant voltage difference circuit connected between said point of zero signal potential and said cathode of said modulated amplifier device.

3. In a direct coupled modulation system including a modulated amplifier discharge device having a cathode and a control electrode, a signal amplifier discharge device, and a load circuit for said signal amplifier discharge device,

said load circuit. including therein a point at high signal potential and. a point of zero sisnal potential; the combination. comp ising: a connection from said point of si nal potential to said control electrode oi said modulated amplifier device, and. a voltage dificrenec circuit connected between said. point of. zero sienal potential and said cathode of said modulated amplifier device- 4. A modulation system, of the type wherein a, signal amplifier stage. is directly coupled. to a. modulated stage, comprising a load circuit for said signal amplifier having therein a point. m. high signal potential and a point of zero signal potential, at discharge device in said modulated, stage having a cathode, an. anode, and a control. electrode, a connection from said point of high signal potential to said control electrode, and circuit means connected between said point. and said modulated stage for maintaining a'diflerent direct current reference level therebetween, and, an output circuit coupled to said anode.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said circuit means. comprises a voltage regulator circuit employing a series load electron discharge device and a. shunt control aloe-- tron discharge device.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said voltage difference circuit comprises a series connected load electron discharge dc vice and a shunt. connected control electron discharge device, and said point of zero signal potential is the positive side of said source oi unidirectional operating potential for said signal amplifier.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said voltage difference circuit, comprises series connected voltage regulator tubes.

8. The combinationv as defined in claim 1 in which said voltage diflerence circuit comprises series connected voltage regulator tubes and said point of said zero signal potential is the positive side of said source of unidirectional potential for said signal amplifier device.

9.. A modulation system comprising a modulated stage and a signal amplifier stage directly coupled thereto, a load circuit for said signalamplifier having therein a point of high signal potential and a. point of: zero signal potential. said modulated stagchaving acathode, an anode. and a control electrode, a connection capable 01 passing direct current extending from said point of high. signal potential to said control electrode, and circuit means including a constant voltage difl'erence circuit maintaining a direct current reference level between said point of zero signal potential and said modulated stage which is different from the potential difl'erence between said two points.

10. A. modulation system comprising a first electron discharge device having grid, plate and cathode electrodes, a source of radio frequency energy coupled. to said grid. an amplifier electron. discharge device having an anode and another electrode, means for applying signal modulationv to said. other electrode or said ampl-ifier, a. connection capable of passing direct current coupled. between. said. anode of said am, plifier device and the grid of said first device, said connection including an inductance coil, a sourcev of power supply for the plate of said amplifier, a. resistor between the.- efiective positive terminal of. said last source and said coil, whereby the fiow of current through said amplifier develops. a. voltagev drop across, said resistor, a direct. current connection including a resistor from the. cathode electrode of said first device to ground; and a voltage. regulating: circuit coupled between the; cathode. end of said last resistor and thatv end of said first resistor which is nearest said source of power supply, and means for bypassingsaid voltage regulator circuit for currents of signal frequency.

11. A modulation system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said signal modulation is a television videov signal, and said system forms part of a television transmitting system.

RAYMOND LAMAR MEISENHEIMEB.

References Cited in the file of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

